Gardening Reflections - A Year of Learning and Growth

By Scout Nelson

As the winter snow blankets the ground, it's time to reflect on a year of gardening – the lessons and plans. This past year brought several successes, like better managing volunteer dill and cosmos, and saving seeds for more strategic planting. Experimenting with fewer zucchini plants proved advantageous, balancing the garden's bounty.

Succession planting didn't pan out as planned but spacing out seeding times helped manage the harvest better. Early plantings of spinach, lettuce, beets, and peas were followed by beans, cucumbers, cabbages, and broccoli. This approach resulted in a staggered and manageable harvest.

The melon patch was particularly rewarding, with an abundant supply of watermelon and muskmelon. Learning when to harvest each type was a journey, with ripe muskmelons almost magically slipping from the vine, while watermelons presented a greater challenge.

Not all was smooth sailing.  Labeling and recording plantings in a binder became a crucial lesson after a mix-up with a mysterious fruit in the melon patch. It turned out to be an unexpected muskmelon! Another lesson learned was the importance of attention during harvest, as experienced with two different carrot varieties – one delightful raw and the other, not so much.

Reflecting on these experiences, the goal for next year is to focus on "time" – slowing down, meticulously recording garden activities, and savoring the joys of gardening.  For fellow gardeners, whether your year was filled with successes or learning moments, may you find joy, humor, and maybe some shared bounty in your gardening journey. Happy gardening!

Photo Credit - gettyimages-johnbraid